Our beauty team have put some of the best skin tints and lightweight foundation formulas to the test to see how they fare in terms of look, longevity and having a lightweight feel
Finding the best foundation – arguably the base of any make-up look – can be a challenge, whether you prefer minimal make-up or a full face of glam. If you fall in the camp of the former, our beauty team has been testing some of the most talked-about skin tints and lightweight foundations to see how they hold up.
Skin tints usually consist of colour pigments suspended in a water or gel-type base, which is what makes them feel super-light on the skin this makes them different from tinted moisturisers, which normally have a creamier, more hydrating consistency. “Skin tints are the sheerest base you can get, providing just a hint of colour to give you a healthy glow,” explains make-up artist Jesse Walker. “They’re perfect for your spring and summer make-up bag as they feel super lightweight and can be applied with your fingers in seconds.” These tints also often come packed with skincare ingredients and offer extra benefits like SPF, making them a must-try if you like a light base.
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Jesse assures that these aren’t just for those with flawless skin, reports OK!. “If you want a bit more coverage then simply use them with your favourite concealer and pick a formula that’s buildable so you can up the coverage a little but still benefit from the light feel,” she says.
They’re not just for young skin either, as Jesse explains. “We sometimes think we need to go heavier as we get older but all ages can benefit from the radiance of a glow-packed base – and the less heavy the product, the less chance of it sitting in fine lines.”
In search of a new lightweight base? Here are the ones our beauty editors love…
Best skin tints and light foundations to buy in 2025
Best stick skin tint
Pixi On-the-Glow Base Foundation Moisture Stick, £22 from Next
Beauty editor Laura Mulley says: “The finish that this travel-friendly foundation stick gives skin is gorgeous – dewy, healthy and naturally perfected. It has a sheer coverage so it won’t cover highly pigmented imperfections or leave your skin looking completely flawless, but instead gives a ‘your skin but better’ result. If you like a barely-there finish and a juicy feel to the skin, I think you’ll love it too. You can read my full review of it here.”
Best long-lasting skin tint
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint, £34 from Space NK
Laura says: “This skin tint blends on so well, and makes skin look gorgeous from the first swipe: smooth, glowy and perfected, but in a very natural way. What impressed me most, though, is just how well this finish lasted throughout the day. I’ve always found skin tints either disappear from the skin or turn drier as the day goes on, settling in fine lines and patches, but not this one. It doesn’t remain looking exactly as fresh as when it was first applied, but it lasts better than all other I’ve tried. You can read my full review of it here.”
Best hydrating skin tint
Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation, £49 from Sephora
Laura says: “This is absolutely gorgeous; if it’s sheer-to-light coverage you’re after, they don’t come much nicer feeling than this. More like a tinted moisturiser, IMO, but with a touch more coverage and longevity, this feels really hydrating on the skin without looking too shiny or dewy, a feeling that lasts all day long.”
Best smoothing skin tint
Kylie Cosmetics Skin Tint Blurring Elixir Foundation, was £26, now £20.80 from Boots
Senior shopping writer Faith Richardson says: “The formula really is weightless, and as soon as it settled into my skin it barely felt like I was wearing anything at all. It gives more of a mild glow than an in-your-face shine, and although Kylie Cosmetics Skin Tint isn’t full-coverage, it covered up my uneven skin tone really well.
“It also felt really nice on my skin, as it contains hyaluronic acid for added hydration – a bonus for my typically dry skin. It also helped smooth over any texture and fine lines without looking too heavy or cakey.”
Best skin tint for a sheer finish
Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream, £34 from Cult Beauty
Shopping writer Grace Salmon says: “I usually opt for a sheer face base such as a skin tint or tinted moisturiser instead of a high- coverage foundation, and as soon as I tried this I knew it was going to become my new summer staple. Featuring copper peptides and squalane, this hydrating formula provides a glowy, natural-looking base that feels just like skincare.”
Best foundation for dry skin
Lumene Invisible Illumination Vegan Collagen Serum In Foundation, was £19.95, now £11.97 from LookFantastic
Laura says: “I knew from the moment I swiped this onto my face that it was going to be a new favourite. It blends quickly and invisibly into the skin, gives a really lovely, natural glow, and has a moisturising sensation that lasts all day without ever going patchy. A great choice for all skin types except perhaps oily or acne-prone. You can read my full review of it here.”
Best skin tint for oily or combination skin
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint, £37 from Liberty London
Laura says: “This formula from top make-up artist Lisa Eldridge isn’t specifically aimed at oilier skin types – and the final finish will depend on your skincare underneath – but I find that it sits perfectly on the oilier areas of my face, yet clings a little bit to patches of drier texture as the day goes on (nothing a quick tap with fingertips can’t sort out). It’s my no means mattifying, but it does dry down. It blends beautifully and the shades are perfection, though, as is the pebble-shaped bottle.”
Best stick foundation for glow
Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick, £35 from Charlotte Tilbury
Head of shopping Zoe Cripps says: “I used to exclusively wear thick foundations to cover persistent breakouts, but this year my skin has finally decided to play fair so I’ve discovered the beauty of a balm-type foundation. It glides on in seconds, gives a good amount of coverage without looking cakey and evens out blotches. If you love the brand’s Hollywood Flawless Filter, you’ll love this.” Read our full review here.
Best foundation for healthier skin
Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation, currently £52.70 from Dermoi (usual price £66)
Editorial commercial content director Michelle Darlow says: “I’ve seen a big shift in my hormonal skin in the past few months, with it feeling extremely dull and dry. I’ve been on the hunt for a moisturising foundation that would diminish the look of lines and wrinkles while also hydrating, and this, a favourite with skin experts, delivered the results I was after. Overall I saw a huge improvement in my skin’s health.”
Best high street skin tint
Maybelline Super Stay up to 24H Skin Tint Foundation + Vitamin C, £13.99 from LookFantastic
Freelance beauty editor Jo Hoare says: “The light nature of skin tints can mean you sacrifice longevity but not with this one. Resisting sweat and humidity, it’s at the fuller end of coverage for a skin tint and has impressive staying power that stands up to a long working day or a big night out, but still gives that natural barely there look. The added vitamin C ups the brightening effect for a boosted healthy glow.”
Best skin tint with sun protection
Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil, from £24.70 from Cult Beauty (usual price £38)
Jo says: “Providing broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, this is the tint for a day at the beach. In addition to the serious SPF benefits it’s also created with skincare ingredients including mega-hydrator Pentavitin (a plant based ingredient that can can bind moisture to the skin for up to 72 hours). Easily buildable, and doubling up as a primer it’s also ideal for those of a sensitive skin nature as it contains no alcohol, fragrance or oil.”
Best skin tint for a light feel and light price
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Luminous Tinted Skin Serum, £13 from Boots
Jo says: “If you want to experiment with a skin tint once in a while only then this delivers incredible luminosity and hydration all for less than the price of a couple of drinks. Infused with Tremella mushroom, known for its antioxidant and skin tone evening benefits, it’s dewy without being greasy and leaves skin both looking and feeling healthy and fresh.”
Best skin tint with skincare benefits
Sculpted by Aimee Connolly HydraTint, £23 from Sculpted by Aimee
Jo says: “A skincare/make-up hybrid with 90% skincare ingredients (including peptides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin) plus SPF20. This leaves skin feeling nourished and moisturised and with a satin-effect veil of coverage that evens out skin tone and minimises imperfections. If you want a quick solution to a dull, tired-looking complexion or you’re suffering from dehydrated skin then this is your best option.”
Source: Mirror
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